Time to Thank You
Michael is a 5-year testicular cancer survivor.
Later this month I celebrate 5 years of being cancer free. While it’s a milestone that I knew was approaching soon it really never seemed to sink in until recently when I was fortunate enough to be discharged from future appointments with my oncologist. During the visit the two of us spoke at length about my illness: the surgeries, the treatments I received, and how fortunate I am to be able to continue to live the life I do today as a cancer survivor.
That moment made me want to tell you how thankful I am for you.
I am thankful for you standing beside me on a journey when I was 22-years-old and about to enter my last semester before graduating from college when I received a phone call on a Friday evening in late January of 2012 that I had cancer. You’ve possibly heard the narrative before — or even unfortunately been witness to — that moment when someone is told the news about their cancer diagnosis: where they were, how they reacted to the news, and how it changed their life forever. For me, that moment came while standing in the kitchen of the house I grew up in as a child, beside my mother — a widow to my father who died from cancer 6 years prior to my diagnosis — clutching the phone with my hand over my mouth just thinking “How did this happen? How do I have cancer?” It is a moment I hope you — or your loved ones — will never have to experience. But because of you, I was able to face the battle head on.
I am thankful for you for instilling joy and love into my heart when 5 days later, on February 1st, my cancer battle began. Over the course of 8 weeks I would undergo surgeries, countless blood scans, and extended stays in several doctor’s offices and hospitals. There were many emotional days and sleepless nights that followed for me, and it was undoubtedly the most difficult time of my life. At first I struggled to stay positive and envisioned the worst. When I was alone I would fall victim to inundating myself with everything that related to my cancer diagnosis and remember feeling at times like my head and heart were going to explode. I hated how I feared the disease I had no control over. But because of you, I was able to continue to persevere.
Not only am I thankful, but I am forever grateful that you stood by my side in the worst of times. When fears would get the best of me, I was blessed to be surrounded by the best family, friends, nurses, doctors and medical staff in the world. The outpouring of love and support that you showed for me in my time of need was then — and remains today — to be an indescribable feeling. During my worst times you lifted my spirits; reminding me that the best days were ahead. Because of you, I firmly believe that I beat the disease and am able to be a cancer survivor today. And with that, I say one last time: Thank you.
Since you’ve given so much to me over the years, I thought I could finally give something back to you. I wanted to share with you the most important lesson I learned from my cancer experience that has changed my life forever. While it is my hope that you never have to experience such a disease as cancer, I know that you will all at one point in your life — directly or indirectly — have to face the demon head on. When that moment arrives, despite the challenges you may encounter, I encourage you to focus on appreciating everything that life has to offer you.
I encourage you to focus on appreciating everything that life has to offer you.
For me, this meant controlling only what I knew I could at the time I was at my worst: an appreciation for being able to live. This helped not only to steer my thoughts away from the disease, but helped me in starting to appreciate the things that I took for granted my whole life. Whether it was things like the sun coming up in the morning, being blessed to have food and water every day, or being fortunate enough to one-day write you a thank you letter 5 years in the making, I urge you to never lose sight of the things that you are grateful for in this world and that God has blessed you with.
It has changed my life in more ways than I can begin to tell you. I ran my first half-marathon on March 17th, 2013 in New York City — 1 year to the date of being cancer free — on behalf of the Livestrong foundation. My fundraising team, “Project 14”, was dedicated in part to celebrating my first year of remission and my father’s lasting legacy; an incredible man who was a passionate school teacher and college baseball coach who died from leukemia back in May of 2006. Altogether, we raised $4,240 to support Livestrong and the fight against cancer; a disease that we should never stop fighting against.
Which is why today, I ask that you make yet another difference in someone else’s life by donating to Livestrong. As you read this letter, someone else’s cancer battle is just beginning. With your love and support, let’s work together to share love, restore hope, and provide faith to those in need during their biggest life battle yet.
Michael, 5-year testicular cancer survivor
Dedicated to: Dr. Martin Engelstein, Dr. Joshua Meeks, Dr. David Shaffer, Dr. Joel Sheinfeld, Mr. Anthony Baijnauth, and LIVESTRONG
Time to Thank You was originally published in Livestrong Voices on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.